Improvement in water-closet apparatus



(diluted tant @met @twine JOHN OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB. TO HIMSELF vlANDGEORGE H. BROWN,

\ MILBROOK, WASHINGTON HOLLOW, NEW YORK.

Leners Patent No. 90,453, dated Ma/y 25, 1869 MPROVENIENT INWATER-CLOSET APPARATUS.

'The schedule referred to 1n um Latem Paten: and maren; par: of che nm.

To all whom 'it 'ma/y concern:

Be 'it known that I, JOHN KEANE, of the city, county, and State` of NewYork,rhave invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-ClosetApparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of .this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparaf tus for governing theflow toaud from the basinsjof water-closets, whereby the water-valve isworked A automatically, and regulated by a retardirig-cylinder;

and

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts, as hereinafter more fully described,

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l represents a side View of theapparatus, partly in section.

Figure 2 is atop or plan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional View of the retarding-cylinder detached. p

Figure 4 is a view of the slide and slotted stand, looking at the endofthe apparatus from the left.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the water-supply cock.

B is the supply-pipe.

O is the discharge-pipe.

The cock Ais operated by means of the pinionwheel D on the end of thecock, and the sector-rack E onthe end of .the lever F.

This lever has its fulcrum at g, on the central stand H. e

I is a cylinder, which contains a spiral spring, J, the tendency ofwhich spring is to throw up the end of the lever K, which has itsfulcrum on the same central stand H.

L is a weight on the lever K, and

m is a weight on the lever F.

N is an adjustable socket, placed in` a slot in the lever K. y

This socket receives the pressure from the seat (when `the closet isused) by means of a rod, which is fixed to the under side of the seat. l

The weight of the person 4thereon depresses the short end of the leverK, raising the weight L, and compressing the spiral spring J. l

O is a vertical-slotted stand on the base P.

E is a slide, which moves up in the slot S with 'the' lever` F, anddrops down by its vown gravity.

When the lever K is forced down by the weight of the person using thecloset, as beforestated, it is caught and latched to the slide, whichraises the other lever F by the projection t, which passes down betweenthe projection u on the slide R and the weighted latch c, which is hungon a pivot at w.

While the pressure remains on the seat, (and on the lever K,) the leverF remains stationary or depressed, as seen in tig. l, the two leversbeing connected by the catch by means of the slide beforel mentioned.

Now, if thepressure is removed by the person rising from the seat, theweight L and also the spring J would both act to throw up the short endof the lever K, and the long end of the lever F with the slide R. Butthis action is retarded by means of a piston in -the cylinder a: on therod y, which is connected with the lever F at z, as seen in the drawing.

The cylinder :u contains liquid; and to guard against evaporation,freezing, or congelation in cold weather, glycerine is used.

The cylinder is closed at each end, the piston-rod y working through astuffing-box in the head.

In the detailed view, fig. 3, it willbe seen that there is a channel, a,on the outside of the cylinder, which `connects with the cylinder aboveand beneath the piston.

As the piston descends, the' liquid is forced from beneath to the upperportion of the cylinder above the piston. As the piston is raised, theliquid is forced in the contrary direction, or from the top to thebottom portion ofthe cylinder, and so on alternately.

The time for the discharge of the liquid in either direction through thechannel a, is regulated by the cock b.

As seenin iig. 1, the sector-rack E is so placed that the elevation ofthe other end of the lever F will revolve and open the cock D.

This would causea sudden rush of water into the basin ofthe closet, asthe action of the lever would be instantaneous in rising and in openingthe-cock, were it not for the retardingdevice already described.

The liquid in the retarding-cylinder acts not only to retard the flow ofwater, and thereby make the wash more complete, but as a cushion, torender the action of the levers soft and noiseless, and for preventingdamage by any sudden .concussion in any part of the apparatus.

As before stated, the left-hand ends of the levers F and K movetogether, and rise while the wash is taking place. This rising motion isfast or slow, according to the position ofthe cock l1.'-

When the levers have been suciently elevated, or the wash suicientlyprolonged, the lever K is released from the lever F, in consequence ofthe peculiar arrangement of the projections t and u, in regard to thelatch c. i

It will be seen that while the slide R rises vertically with theprojection u, the projection t rises on a circle, the radius of whichcircle is the distance of t from the fulcrum g. This deviation of fromav vertical line 4 carries it from the catch and releases 'the leversfrom it drops by its own gravity, and allows the pan to closel by meansof its lever-Weight.

It will be seen that while the person is on the seat, .the apparatus isat rest in all its parts. The pressunl being removed, the cock isgradually opened, and the wash given while the panof the water-closet isopened by means of the arm D', the action inboth cases being governed bythe retarding-cylinder. When the latch is released, the cock isgradually closed, and the ai'terwash given, While .the pan-lever isgoverned by the weight attached to its lever.

This apparatus may be placed either in front or rear of the water-elosetbasin, as maybe deemed ,mostadvisable or convenient.

It is entirely automatic in its movements, and sure in its operation,durable, andnot liable to get out of order.

Its advantages over any Water-closet apparatus herebefore known aremany, and must be obvious to all.

I claim `as new, and desire -to`secure by Letters Patent- 1. Asupply-water-cock or valve, A, operated by means -of a pinion andsector-rack, in combination with a retarding-cylinder, arrangedsubstantially as I shown and described.

2n. The combination of the levers Eand K with the projections t and'uand latch fu, and the retarding-cylinder x, all constructed, arranged,and operating vsubstantially as herein shownand described. j

3. The combination of the arm D', slide R, and latch r, substantially asAand for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the spring J, levers ,F and K, pin D, sector E,cylinder x, with its piston and rod a and latch v, arranged andoperating substantially -as and for the purposes set forth.

l JOHN KEANE.

Witnesses: FRANK BLocKLnY, WM. DEAN OvEnELL.

